Ice mold

Abstract

An ice mold includes a first mold assembly and a second mold assembly, each including a base with an aperture and a mold attached to the base. Each of the molds includes a receptacle that forms a cavity. The first mold assembly is attached removably to the second mold assembly such that a liquid-tight seal is formed between the molds. When the first mold assembly and the second mold assembly are attached to one another, the cavities of the molds form a molding cavity. When the first mold assembly and the second mold assembly are detached from one another, each of the receptacles is moveable from a first molding position, in which the receptacle is positioned within the respective aperture of the base, and a second inverted position, in which at least a portion of the receptacle of extends outwardly from the aperture.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An ice mold, comprising:
 a first mold assembly including a base having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and an aperture extending from said first end to said second end, and a first mold attached to said second end of said base, said first mold including a receptacle having a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface, and a first cavity; and 
 a second mold assembly including a base having a first end, a second end opposite said first end of said base of said second mold assembly, and an aperture extending from said first end of said base of said second mold assembly to said second end of said base of said second mold assembly, and a second mold attached to said second end of said base of said second mold assembly, said second mold including a receptacle having a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface of said receptacle of said second mold, and a second cavity, said first mold assembly being attached removably to said second mold assembly wherein a liquid-tight seal is formed between said first mold and said second mold, 
 wherein said base of said first mold assembly includes an annular flange extending from said second end of said base of said first mold assembly, and said base of said second mold assembly includes an annular flange extending from said second end of said base of said second mold assembly, wherein said receptacle of said first mold includes an annular portion and said receptacle of said second mold includes an annular flange, wherein said annular portion of said receptacle of said first mold is engaged removably with said annular flange of said base of said first mold assembly, and said annular flange of said receptacle of said second mold is engaged removably with said annular flange of said base of said second mold assembly, 
 wherein said base of said first mold assembly includes an annular groove intermediate said annular flange of said base of said first mold assembly and said second end of said base of said first mold assembly, and said annular portion of said receptacle of said first mold includes a first annular flange portion having an internal groove, a first internal lip, and a second internal lip, and a second annular flange portion having an external annular groove and a surface portion, wherein said first internal lip engages said annular groove of said base of said first mold assembly and said annular flange of said base of said first mold assembly engages said internal groove of said first mold, and said second internal lip of said first annular flange portion engages said annular flange of said base of said first mold assembly, 
 wherein said annular flange of said second mold includes a branch, an internal groove located on one side of said branch and defining an internal annular lip, and an internal annular bead located on an opposite side of said branch, wherein said internal annular lip of said second mold engages said annular groove of said base of said second mold assembly, and said annular flange of said base of said second mold assembly engages said internal groove of said second mold, and said branch of said second mold engages said second end of said base of said second mold assembly, 
 wherein when said first mold assembly and said second mold assembly are attached to one another, said first cavity of said first mold and said second cavity of said second mold form a molding cavity, and 
 wherein when said first mold assembly and said second mold assembly are detached from one another, said receptacle of said first mold is moveable from a first molding position, in which said receptacle of said first mold is positioned within said aperture of said base of said first mold assembly, and a second inverted position, in which at least a portion of said receptacle of said first mold extends outwardly from said aperture of said first base of said first mold assembly at said second end of said base of said first mold assembly, and 
 wherein when said first mold assembly and said second mold assembly are detached from one another, said receptacle of said second mold is moveable from a first molding position, in which said receptacle of said second mold is positioned within said aperture of said base of said second mold assembly, and a second inverted position, in which at least a portion of said receptacle of said second mold extends outwardly from said aperture of said base of said second mold assembly at said second end of said base of said second mold assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The ice mold of  claim 1 , wherein said internal annular bead of said second mold engages said external annular groove of said first mold to form a liquid-tight seal between said annular flange of said second mold and said second annular flange portion of said first mold. 
     
     
       3. The ice mold of  claim 2 , wherein said branch of said second mold and said surface portion of said first mold form a liquid-tight seal. 
     
     
       4. The ice mold of  claim 3 , wherein said receptacle of said first mold is substantially semi-spherical in shape and said receptacle of said second mold is substantially semi-spherical in shape. 
     
     
       5. The ice mold of  claim 4 , wherein said molding cavity is spherical in shape. 
     
     
       6. The ice mold of  claim 5 , wherein said receptacle of said first mold and said receptacle of said second mold are each made from a flexible material. 
     
     
       7. The ice mold of  claim 6 , wherein said receptacle of said first mold and said receptacle of said second mold are each made from silicone rubber. 
     
     
       8. The ice mold of  claim 1 , wherein said base of said first mold assembly includes a wall extending from said first end of said base of said first mold assembly to said second end of said base of said first mold assembly, and said base of said second mold assembly includes a wall extending from said first end of said base of said second mold assembly to said second end of said base of said second mold assembly. 
     
     
       9. The ice mold of  claim 8 , wherein said wall of said base of said first mold assembly includes a first height, and said wall of said base of said second mold assembly includes a second height. 
     
     
       10. The ice mold of  claim 9 , wherein said receptacle of said first mold includes a first volume, and said receptacle of said second mold includes a second volume. 
     
     
       11. The ice mold of  claim 10 , wherein said first height is equal to said second height. 
     
     
       12. The ice mold of  claim 11 , wherein said first volume is equal to said second volume. 
     
     
       13. The ice mold of  claim 10 , wherein said first height is greater than said second height. 
     
     
       14. The ice mold of  claim 13 , wherein said first volume is greater than said second volume. 
     
     
       15. The ice mold of  claim 10 , wherein said first height is less than said second height. 
     
     
       16. The ice mold of  claim 15 , wherein said first volume is less than said second volume. 
     
     
       17. The ice mold of  claim 8 , wherein said wall of said base of said first mold assembly is substantially frusto-conical in shape. 
     
     
       18. The ice mold of  claim 17 , wherein said wall of said base of said second mold assembly is substantially frusto-conical in shape. 
     
     
       19. The ice mold of  claim 8 , wherein said base of said first mold assembly and said base of said second mold assembly are each made from plastic. 
     
     
       20. The ice mold of  claim 1 , wherein said base of said first mold assembly and said first mold are unitary. 
     
     
       21. The ice mold of  claim 20 , wherein said base of said second mold assembly and said second mold are unitary. 
     
     
       22. The ice mold of  claim 1 , wherein said receptacle of said second mold includes a fill hole. 
     
     
       23. The ice mold of  claim 22 , wherein said molding cavity is adapted to be filled with a fluid through said fill hole.